Tobacco feeding apparatus for cigarette machines



y 1932- J. BEHRLENZ 1,856,688

TOBACCO FEEDING APPARATUS FOR CIGARETTE MACHINES Filed Nov. '4. 1930 Patented May 3, 1932 UNITED STATES JOSEPH IBEHRLENZ, OF HAMBURG, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO THE FIRM OF NEUER- I BURGSCHE VERWALTUNGSGESELLSGHAFT G. M. B. H., OF COLOGNE-ON-THE-RHINE,

GERMANY TOBACCO FEEDING APPARATUS FOR CIGARETTE MACHINES Application filed November 4, 1930, Serial No.

The invention relates to a tobacco-feeding apparatus and more particularly to an apparatus for feeding tobacco automatically from a store bin or the like to a cigarette making machine in such a manner, that a constant tobacco level is maintained in the hopper of the cigarette making machine.

Cigarette machines usually comprise a hopper adapted to take up a certain quantity of tobacco and within this hopper a set of carding or feeding rolls is provided by means of which the tobacco is delivered on to the cigarette paper. It is known to feed the hopper manually from a tobacco container arranged adjacent the machine and this feeding must be performed at such a rate, that i the quantity of tobacco removed by the feeding rollers is replenished continuously. In order to produce cigarettes of uniform weight, the quantity or level of the tobacco in the hopper must be maintained constant.

It follows from what is said above, that the operator of the cigarette machine must charge the hopper carefully in such a manner, I

that a constant tobacco level is maintained in the same. If the level of the tobacco rises substantially above a marked normal value or sinks substantially below this value the result will be, that cigarettes of non-uniform weight are produced. The weight of the cigarette is thus to a certain degree dependent upon the skill and attentiveness of the operator.

It is also known to employ feeding tubes, which terminate above the hopper and from which the tobacco drops freely into the container. Such feeding tubes and also other conveyor arrangements of known kind are operated by means of indicating devices such as feeler arms or the like, which are controlled by the level of the tobacco in the hopper. When the tobacco level rises above the normal level the supply will be stopped and when the tobacco level sinks below the normal level a charge will be delivered to the tobacco hop- The chief drawbacks of the automatic tobacco feeding devices described above are, that special indicator means are needed, wherefore the devicesare of rather compli- 493364, and in Germany November 16, 1929.

cated structure, and that the level of the tobacco varies permanently, whereby cigarettes of non-uniform weight are obtained.

According to the present invention the above mentioned drawbacks are avoided by feeding the tobacco hopper through feeding tubes terminating directly in the hopper substantially on the level of the tobacco. The mouths of the feeding tubes are hereby preferably located between an agitator plate and the dressing rolls, adjacent the former. By means of this arrangement tobacco will be fed into the hopper as soon as the tobacco level sinks below the normal value. As soonas the normal level again has been reached, the flow of tobacco through the feedingtube will be throttled off. i

A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown schematically in the accompanying drawing.

WVith'reference to the drawing the tobacco is fed from the storing place to the hopper 2 through a tube 1, which may be arranged in any convenient angular position in relation to thehopper. If the tobacco store is situated above the room in which the cigarette machines are located a vertical or downwardly inclined feed tube may be employed, through which the tobacco will drop under gravity; If the'tobacco store is situated on the same level as the machineroom or below the same, horizontal or ascending supply tubes may be used through which the tobacco may be forced, for instance by means of compressed air.

The tube 1 proper terminates somewhat above the level 3 of the tobacco and is equipped with a mouth piece consisting of an elastic tubular member or sleeve 4 adapted to contact with the surface of the tobacco in the hopper and to adjust itself after the move ment of the tobacco level, whereby the formation of lumps or felted masses is prevented. The packing of the tobacco mass is further prevented by means of an agitator consisting mainly of a pivotally arranged plate 9, which is alternately moved inward and outward by means of a crank'mechanism 6, 7 r r When the machine is at rest the tobacco drops down through the tube 1 until the normal level is reached, whereby further feeding of tobacco is prevented until the feeding rolls 5, 5' are started, whereby tobacco is consumed and the level of the tobacco sinks. On account of the rotation of the rolls 5 and 5 and the reciprocating movements of the plate 9 the tobacco body in the hopper is agitated in such a manner that an air pocket is periodically formed adjacent the agitator plate 9 and the tobacco in the tube 4 will under the influence of the compressed air or its own gravity permanently endeavor to fill this pocket or space. This feeding or filling process lasts until the plate 9 again moves inward, whereby the volume of the tobacco hopper is reduced and the level of the tobacco rises until the opening in the elastic member is closed by the tobacco being pressed against the same and the charging operation is interrupted. During the next outward movement of the plate 9 and the continued rotation of the rolls 5, 5 a fresh air pocket is produced, which again is filled in the manner described above, and so on.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in practicingthe invention, in departure from the particular showing and description, without departing from the true spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. An automatic tobacco feeding appa ratus for cigarette machines, comprisin in combination, a tobacco hopper, feeding means including a feed roll for deliveringtobacco from such hopper to a cigarette machine, an agitator device for agitating the tobacco in said hopper and a tobacco feed tube for said hopper, terminating between said feed roll and said agitator device, substantially on the level of the tobacco body in said hopper.

2. An automatic tobacco feeding apparatus for cigarette machines, comprising in combination, a tobacco hopper, feeding means piece on said feed tube, terminating'betwebn said feed roll and said agitator device, adj cent the latter, substantially on the level of the tobacco body in said hopper.

In testimony whereof I have afixed my signature.

JOSEPH BEHRLENZ.

including afeed roll for delivering tobacco from such hopper to a cigarette machine, an agitator device for agitating the tobacco in said hopper and a tobacco feed tube for said hopper, terminating between said feed vroll and said agitator device, adjacent the latter, substantially on the level of the tobacco body in said hopper.

3. An automatic feeding apparatus for cigarette machines, comprising in combination, a tobacco hopper, feeding means including a feed roller for delivering tobacco from such hopper to a cigarette machine, an agitator device for agitating the tobacco in said hopper, a tobacco feed tube for said hopper and an elastic, tubular end piece on said feed tube, terminating between said feed roll and said agitatordevice, adjacent the latter, substantially on the level of the tobacco body in said hopper. 

